Seven Candles
Mawunyon gave the injunction that worship should use seven candles and provided the form of the candleholder.
About
One Church. Worldwide. Founded by Divine Order.
Celestial Church of Christ is one spiritual, worldwide, united and indivisible Holy Church, established by Divine Order on September 29, 1947, in Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, through Reverend Pastor Prophet Founder Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa.
From its beginning, the Church has understood its mission as a call to proclaim Jesus Christ, lead people away from dependence upon powers of darkness, and demonstrate complete reliance upon God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today, Celestial Church of Christ has parishes and dioceses around the world. Though we gather in many places, we belong to one Church.
Disciple Parish is one of those parishes.
The story of how Celestial Church of Christ began.
May 23, 1947
Before Celestial Church of Christ was established, Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa worked as a carpenter and later entered the timber trade.
In May 1947, while on a journey into the forest in search of ebony, he carried his Bible with him as was his practice.
On May 23, 1947, during an eclipse of the sun, Oshoffa was praying when he heard the word:
Luli
The voice explained its meaning as:
“The Grace of Jesus Christ.”
Oshoffa testified that from that experience there was a profound change in him.
May–August 1947
After the paddler who had brought him into the forest left, Oshoffa became stranded because he could not paddle the canoe himself.
He remained in the forest for approximately three months, living on honey and water from a flowing stream.
During that time he prayed extensively, experienced visions, and testified to the transforming presence and glory of Jesus Christ.
Eventually he reached Fagbe, where he met Michel, who would later become Senior Leader Michel in Celestial Church of Christ. Oshoffa continued searching until he recovered his canoe.
1947
After finding his canoe again, Oshoffa eventually arrived at Agange.
There he encountered Kudiho, a young Methodist who had been gravely ill. Through Jesus Christ, Kudiho was restored.
News spread rapidly.
People began speaking of following Oshoffa in “his Church,” but Oshoffa told them plainly that he did not have a Church.
This is historically important because the instruction to establish a new Church had not yet been given.
1947
After returning to Porto-Novo, Oshoffa received word that his nephew, Emmanuel Mawunyon Guton, had died.
Oshoffa went to him and testified that, in the name of Jesus Christ, Christ raised him.
Emmanuel immediately received the gift of prophecy and became the first prophet of Celestial Church of Christ.
Through his prophetic ministry, important elements of Celestial worship began to be revealed.
September 29, 1947
On September 29, 1947, Oshoffa was praying in his house in Porto-Novo with visiting friends when he experienced the Divine Order that marks the birth of Celestial Church of Christ.
He testified that a strong ray of light appeared and that a winged heavenly being delivered God’s commission to him.
The message called him to preach to the world and warned against professing Christianity while turning to fetish priests and powers of darkness when confronted by life’s difficulties.
God also declared that works of divine healing would be carried out in the name of Jesus Christ as testimony that Oshoffa had been sent by Him.
Early October 1947
During the first week of October 1947, five days after the Divine Order, Oshoffa received further instruction that the Divine Commission entrusted to him was to establish a new Church, beginning there in his house.
Celestial Church of Christ nevertheless recognizes September 29, 1947 as its founding/birth date by Divine Order.
October 5, 1947
The seating arrangement of Celestial Church of Christ was revealed on October 5, 1947, through a prophetess who, under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the wilderness, sketched the arrangement using oranges.
The Church did not choose its name through an organizational meeting.
Alexander Yanga, who was receiving spiritual ministration at Oshoffa’s residence, entered a trance that lasted seven days.
At the end of the seventh day, he requested a piece of chalk and wrote:
Eglise du Christianisme Céleste — Celestial Church of Christ.
Eglise du Christianisme Céleste
French
Celestial Church of Christ
English
Ijo Mimo ti Kristi lati orun wa
Yoruba
The name was understood as having been revealed through the Holy Spirit.
One of the defining teachings of Celestial Church of Christ is that its spiritual identity extends beyond its name.
The Constitution teaches that the name of the Church, its tenets and mode of worship, and its service hymns were revealed through the Holy Spirit, pointing to the promise of Jesus Christ in John 14:25–26 concerning the Holy Spirit who would teach and bring His words to remembrance.
For this reason, the distinctive features of Celestial worship are not understood merely as cultural traditions.
They belong to a larger revealed order through which Celestians are taught to approach God with holiness, reverence and attention.
The revealed order of Celestial worship did not come all at once. Different elements were revealed at different times through the work of the Holy Spirit, forming the worship life of the Church over time.
Mawunyon gave the injunction that worship should use seven candles and provided the form of the candleholder.
Mawunyon provided the description of the collection pouch known as Pajaspa, including its place for a lit candle.
Early prophetic instructions connected incense and revealed songs with the approach to worship.
The early instructions recorded the removal of shoes and wearing of the white Sutana as part of approaching worship.
The early worship instructions included kneeling and bowing the forehead before Almighty God in reverence.
This was revealed later. Oshoffa stated that the bell revelation came seven years after the birth of the Church. In the vision, the bell rang three times and worshippers responded: “Holy, Holy, Holy to the Lord God of Hosts.”
The seating arrangement was revealed on October 5, 1947 through a prophetess under the influence of the Holy Spirit, using oranges to sketch the arrangement.
The Divine Commission given to the Founder places Jesus Christ at the center of the Church’s mission.
Celestial Church of Christ calls people away from dependence upon idols, charms, fetish practices and powers of darkness and toward complete trust in God through Jesus Christ.
“Holy is the Celestial Church of Christ and all who worship in her should endeavour to be clean in body and in soul.”
CCC Constitution & TenetsThat is why holiness, prayer, reverence, spiritual discipline and dependence upon the Holy Spirit are woven throughout Celestial life.
Celestial Church of Christ is one and indivisible.
A parish is an individual congregation within that one Church.
That means CCC Disciple Parish is not a separate denomination or an independent church that merely follows Celestial teachings.
We are Celestial Church of Christ.
Disciple Parish is the local parish through which we worship, serve and grow together as part of the worldwide Church.
If you’re encountering Celestial Church of Christ for the first time, some parts of our worship may be unfamiliar.
These practices are not meant to remain unexplained.
Our Celestial Worship section explores their meaning, their place in the revealed order of the Church, and the biblical foundations that help us understand how Celestians approach the worship of God.
Understand the meaning and place of the white prayer and worship robe in Celestial Church of Christ.
Learn why white candles are used in Celestial worship and how they form part of the revealed order of service.
Explore the place of incense in Celestial worship and its connection to prayer and approaching God.
Understand the sacred arrangement of the Sanctuary and Altar and how they function within Celestial worship.
Learn about the use of sanctified water and its place in the spiritual life of the Church.
Understand the role of prophecy and prophetic ministry within Celestial Church of Christ.
Learn about The Mercy Land and its place in prayer, spiritual preparation, and church life.